Shrubs and trees with no exudate, sometimes with thorns. Leaves alternate, spiral, simple to compound, often with toothed margin, some genera with glands near petiole attachment. Stipules present. Flowers regular, usually bisexual, flower base thickened and cup shaped, usually 5 free petals, and stamens 5-many, enclosing the fruit, 2-4 styles terminal, free or fused at the base, ovary superior or inferior. Fruits drupe like with several seeds or berries.
General info
Distribution Worldwide, but mostly northern temperate regions, 2850 species. Ecology Not very common, usually in forest understorey to canopy (trees) or in open secondary scrub (climbers and shrubs). More common at higher elevations. Uses Edible fruits, ornamentals. Similar to Chrysobalanaceae but these differ by always being trees, bilateral symmetric flowers and an excentric style. Symplocaceae but these miss stipules. Saxifragaceae but these usually miss the stipules.
Family description
Shrubs and trees with no exudate, sometimes with thorns.Leaves alternate, spiral, simple to compound, often with toothed margin, some genera with glands near petiole attachment. Stipules present.
Flowers regular, usually bisexual, flower base thickened and cup shaped, usually 5 free petals, and stamens 5-many, enclosing the fruit, 2-4 styles terminal, free or fused at the base, ovary superior or inferior.
Fruits drupe like with several seeds or berries.
General info
Distribution Worldwide, but mostly northern temperate regions, 2850 species.Ecology Not very common, usually in forest understorey to canopy (trees) or in open secondary scrub (climbers and shrubs). More common at higher elevations.
Uses Edible fruits, ornamentals.
Similar to Chrysobalanaceae but these differ by always being trees, bilateral symmetric flowers and an excentric style. Symplocaceae but these miss stipules. Saxifragaceae but these usually miss the stipules.
Treated genera
Eriobotrya japonica
Prunus arborea